A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Fereby family of England.
Reg. 6922 · English, D–F
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ar. a chev. engr. betw. three lions' heads erased sa”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Fereby Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Fereby arms are recorded
The Fereby arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried arms.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Fereby arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of England.
Origin & History of the Fereby Family in England
The surname Fereby is a locative name, meaning it was originally taken from a specific place to identify the people who lived there. The name is derived from the village of Ferriby in the East Riding of Yorkshire, which was historically spelled in various ways including Fereby. By the early 17th century, the family had established a presence in the city of York, a major hub of trade and administration in Northern England. At this time, individuals with the name were often involved in the professional and mercantile life of the city, reflecting the broader social shifts occurring in urban centers during the reign of King James I. As families moved from rural villages into growing cities like York, they carried their place-based surnames with them, helping to preserve a link to their ancestral roots in the Yorkshire countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ferriby
A village settlement near a ferry crossing point.
This name
FerebyDerived from a locational surname referring to individuals originating from North or South Ferriby.
also spelled
Ferby
Ferebie
Related arms
Ferbyvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Smith, A. H., The Place-Names of the East Riding of Yorkshire and York, 1937
York City Archives, York House Books, 1620
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lionCourage, strength and royalty
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
lionCourage, strength and royalty
